House painting 101: The complete guide to painting your home's exterior
By Thumbtack Staff•Last updated Feb 14, 2024
Last updated Feb 14, 2024
Table of Contents
- What is exterior painting?
- Benefits of painting your home’s exterior
- Signs you need to paint your home’s exterior
- The best time to paint your home
- How much does it cost to paint a house?
- Choosing the best exterior paint, color and finish
- How to prepare your home for painters
- How to hire a professional exterior painter
- What to expect during the house painting process
- How to maintain your home’s exterior paint
- Find exterior painters near you
- FAQs
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Cleaning and painting your home’s exterior is a smart way to boost its curb appeal and help protect it from damage. But before you dive right into the project, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of exterior painting.
There are also several steps to take even before the first coat is applied to the siding. Keep reading to learn when you should repaint your home’s exterior, how much it costs, the best paint to use and more.
What is exterior painting?
An exterior paint job covers the outside of your home, not the inside. It won’t affect interior doors or windows. Homeowners often paint the following exterior surfaces:
- Siding
- Fascia
- Exterior doors
- Garage doors
- Trim
- And more
If your home has a porch or deck, you can also repaint those structures at the same time.
Benefits of painting your home’s exterior
Homeowners may choose to paint their home’s exterior for a variety of reasons, including:
- Improve curb appeal. Washing and repainting your home can give it a clean, crisp look that helps it stand out on your block.
- Increase home value. You may be able to increase your home’s value and recoup some of the painting cost when it’s time to sell.
- Attract buyers. Choosing attractive exterior paint colors can make your home easier to sell.
- Protect your home from outside elements. Repainting can help protect exterior materials, such as wood, from the sun, wind, snow and rain.
Signs you need to paint your home’s exterior
There are a few telltale signs that your home needs new paint.
Sign #1: Peeling, fading, cracking, bubbling or chipping paint
If you can see peeling, cracking or chipping on the siding, patios or trim, contact a painting contractor. You may be tempted to scrape away loose pieces, but even a good paint scraper won’t give you a smooth finish.
Also, if a once-vibrant paint job has lost its luster, you may want to hire a quality contractor to help preserve the exterior color.
Sign #2: Hardened or cracked caulking
Pay attention to more than just the paint. If you see hardened or cracked caulking at the edge or section of trim, inspect other areas. Damaged caulking could compromise your home’s defense against moisture and water damage. You might need to replace the caulking and add a fresh coat of paint.
Sign #3: It’s been 5-10 years since your last paint job
Sometimes a few touch-ups every year are enough. But if it’s been a while since the house was painted — around 5 to 10 years — it may be time for a fresh coat. If you live in an extremely cold, windy or hot climate that’s rough on your home, you may need to repaint more often.
The best time to paint your home
Timing your paint job is important. Use these tips to get the best results:
- It’s best to paint when it’s at least 50 degrees outside. Make sure temperatures won’t dip below 32° F at night for several days after, according to Consumer Reports.
- Be cautious when color matching. If you’re trying to paint your home the same color it already is, you’ll need adequate lighting to make sure the new coat matches the original.
- Don’t paint when it’s too windy outside. A little wind is usually OK, but drop cloths and plastic sheeting can blow around, and debris can get stuck in fresh paint.
- Aim for spring or early fall. Try finding a painter in the spring or fall months when it’s warm enough, but not too hot.
- Paint well ahead of a critical event or date. It may take 30 days for paint to fully cure, so give yourself plenty of time before any events you plan to host.
How much does it cost to paint a house?
The cost to paint a home's exterior depends on where you live, who you hire and the size of the area that needs painting. The type of exterior also affects pricing. For example, painting a home with wood siding may cost less than painting a home with metal siding.
The cost may go up or down depending on the type of paint, the equipment the painter needs and the prep work required first. In many cases, home painters have to scrape away loose paint or use a pressure washer before applying the first coat.
Learn more by reading our guide, "How much does it cost to paint a house?"
Choosing the best exterior paint, color and finish
The best paints for your home’s exterior are water-based paints (latex with acrylic) and oil-based paints. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks.
| Paint Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Water-based (latex, acrylic) | Resists cracking because it’s flexible; dries quickly; retains color; is easy to clean; resists mold and mildew; and doesn’t yellow over time. | Sometimes doesn’t cover as well as oil-based paint; and isn’t great for metal. |
| Oil-based | Goes on smoothly; covers thoroughly in one coat; is durable; and has a gloss. | Yellows and cracks as it ages; dries more slowly; has higher VOC levels; is harder to clean up; and has a stronger odor. |
Professionals tend to agree that latex or water-based paints are often your best option. However, you may want to use the same type of paint that’s currently on your home’s exterior. When in doubt, consult a professional painter for advice.
Exterior house paint color tips
The color you choose will largely depend on your personal taste. Many homeowners use the color swatches major paint brands provide. In general, people prefer a lighter color on the trim to help highlight architectural details, windows and doors.
Some also choose a bolder color for the front door to make the house stand out in the neighborhood. If you’re having a hard time deciding, ask your painter for their opinion.
How to prepare your home for painters
Consider completing a few tasks before your exterior painters arrive, especially if you want to save time and money. Here are some steps you may be able to do on your own:
- Decide which areas need to be painted. This is your chance to get everything done in one shot, so it’s best to address every area that could use fresh paint.
- Use a pressure or power washer to clean your home. You need to wash your exterior walls because this removes dirt, dust and debris that could affect the paint job. If you don’t want to do this task yourself, your painter will likely do it. Or, you can find pressure washing pros in your area.
- Locate rough spots and use a putty knife to scrape them down. You may also need a stiff-bristle brush. The better you prep the exterior, the smoother the paint job will be. If the surface is too rough, you may have to pay extra to have it smoothed out.
- Identify which areas need more or less paint. If you’re touching up the existing color, you may not need as much paint in certain spots.
Keep in mind: if you’re inexperienced, it may be smarter and safer to leave prep work to a professional painter.
How to hire a professional exterior painter
Finding the right exterior painter isn’t hard if you do your research. Here are the steps every homeowner should take:
Research online. Identify a few house painters near you, review their portfolios, check their credentials and get a feel for their experience.
Compare pros’ ratings. Ratings are a good indication of how skilled and reliable a painter is. If you see a lot of low ratings that make you nervous, you can respectfully ask why they received those ratings. It can help clear the air and eliminate doubts.
Read the customer reviews carefully. Look for comments about the quality of the paint job, timeliness and customer service. If the job turned out well but took too long, that could be a red flag. If the painters were rude, inconsiderate or dismissive, that’s another red flag. Helpful reviews often include details about what the painter did well, how they went the extra mile and how they handled obstacles.
Get price quotes. Before you hire a painter, make sure you’re paying a fair price. Get cost estimates from at least three painters to start. If you’re not happy with those prices, ask for a few more.
Ask questions. The painters you contact will likely ask you plenty of questions about your project, but use that time to ask your own questions too, like:
- What’s included in the cost estimate?
- What happens if you realize the job will cost more than the estimate?
- Do you foresee any difficult challenges while painting my home? If so, how will you handle them?
- Have you painted a home that’s similar to mine?
- Is there anything I need to do to make the job site safer or more convenient for you?
- Can you provide a few references I can contact?
- Are you going to do this yourself, or will you subcontract the work to someone else?
- How long do you expect this project to take?
Although finding the right painter requires some research, you’ll find the best pro by taking the time to vet them thoroughly.
What to expect during the house painting process
First, many painters will give you a free quote. While inspecting the house, they may discuss the prep work involved as well as color choices and types of paint.
Next, your painter may need to do some cleaning and prep work. This may involve pressure washing and spreading drop cloths to catch chips of paint as they fall. There may be significant sanding and scraping. For smaller jobs, the prep and painting can sometimes happen on the same day. Often, painters will need an entire day to get the house ready.
After your home is prepped, it has to be taped. Tape is applied to protect surfaces that don’t need paint.
When the taping is finished, it’s time to start painting. The time it takes to paint your home depends on its size. You can expect it to take at least three days, but ask your painter if they expect it to take longer.
How to maintain your home’s exterior paint
Once your house has been repainted, you’ll want to stay on top of maintenance to help the paint last as long as possible. This includes:
- Wash your home’s exterior. Remove dirt, pollutants, mildew and grime by using a mildew cleaning solution, sponges and soft-bristled scrub brushes. You can also use a pressure washer.
- Touch up the paint. Every year or two, grab a paint can and do small touch-ups.
- Address damage quickly. If you notice cracking or peeling, deal with it right away. Repairing damaged areas quickly can help prevent the problem from spreading.
- Inspect your home’s exterior regularly. As the weather and seasons change, inspect your home’s exterior paint and caulking. Check for chips, cracks, gaps and other issues that are unsightly and can lead to water damage.
- Stay on top of landscaping. Properly maintain your lawn, flowers, bushes and trees, especially if they’re located close to your home.
Find exterior painters near you
A good exterior paint job can add both beauty and value to your home. If you’re ready to hire an exterior painter now, start searching for one on Thumbtack.
FAQs
How many days does it take for exterior paint to dry?
Exterior paint is dry to the touch within a few hours. It may take as long as 30 days to cure, however.
Can you paint the exterior of a house with a roller?
Yes, a roller, if it’s the right size, can do a good job of covering the exterior of your home. You can also use a paintbrush.
Is it better to spray or roll exterior paint?
Both options have their pros and cons. It often takes a bit longer to set up and prepare your home for spray painting. But the process of spray painting your home can be faster — if you know what you’re doing.
If you’re a beginner DIYer, you may make a few mistakes with a spray painter, such as not covering the area evenly and creating a mess. Using a roller is sometimes easiest, and usually more affordable.
How long should an exterior paint job last?
An exterior paint job should last between five and 10 years.
How often do you need to paint the exterior of your house?
You may need to repaint the exterior of your house every five to 10 years. But if your home has endured harsh climates, you’ll likely need to repaint it more often.
A note about project costs featured in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs.
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